Trolley-lubricator.



No. 767,339. Patented Aug. I9, I902.

P. E. LOBEE.

TROLLEY LUBRICATOB. (Application filed May 81, 1902.

(No Mod 6|.)

n: norms PETERS c0, PHOT0-LIT O., WASHINGTON n. c.

UNITED STATES I PATENT ()FFICE.

PERRY E. LOREE, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TROLLEY-LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 707,339, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed May 31, 1902.

To CLZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PERRY E. LOREE, a citizen of the United-States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Trolley Lubricators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to lubricators for trolley'and other wheels, and has for its object to provide an improved construction whereby the wear between the wheel audits spindle or axis may be diminished by suitable provisions for lubrication, being more particularly designed to adapt the structure for use with a lubricating-grease which is not fluid at ordinary temperatures.

To these ends myinvention consists in cer tain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa structure embodying my invention in one form; and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line as or; of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the said drawings the cheek-pieces of a trolley-harp or other suitable supporting part are indicated at 1, said cheek-pieces being provided with apertures 2 to receive the spindle or axle 3, which may be secured in position by a key or cotter 4 or by any other suitable means which will render said spindle readily removable and at the same time prevent its rotation. In the interior of this spindle there is formed a hollow space or reservoir 5 to receive the lubricant, which isv preferably in the form of a grease not fluid at ordinary temperatures, said lubricant beingintroduced through one end of the spindle, which is open for that purpose and which is adapted to be closed by a screw plug or cap 6or other suitable closure. The other end of the spindle is non-apertured or solid, so as to close that end of the space or .reservoir 5 and also for the purpose of receiving the key or pin 4:. An aperture 7 is formed through the bottom of the spindle at about the middle thereof, communicating with the reservoir 5 Serial No. 109,705- (No model.)

and the exterior of the spindle and forming an outlet for the passage of the lubricant.

groove 9, with which the aperture 7 communicates, said groove being filled with a packing 10, of asbestos or other suitable absorbent material adapted to retard the flow of the lubricant and not liable to be injured by heat. In order to permit the introduction of oil or other suitable liquid lubricant, in case the lubricant originally placed in the spindle becomes exhausted under circumstances which render the removal of the spindle difficult or inadvisable, I provide a filling-aperture 11, which passes down through the closure 6 from the top thereof, being partially formed, if necessary, in the adjacent end of the spindle, through which aperture oil may be poured into the interior of the spindle without removing the latter. In order to insure the correct positioning of the spindle with the outlet-aperture 7 in the under side thereof and the filling-aperture 11 directed upwardly, I provide the closure and adjacent cheek-piece with a notch and recess, which will register when the parts are properly assembled and which will not permit their beingotherwise assembled. In the present instance I have shown the cheek-piece as provided with'a projection 12, the closure being provided with a notch or recess 13, in which said projection fits. The usual contact-springs are represented at 14.

Itwill be understood that before assembling the parts the interior of the spindle is filled with the lubricating-grease, and the closure is then screwed into place, the spindle being inserted through the apertures of the cheek-pieces and through the bore of the trolley-wheel, the projection 12 and notch 13 insuring its insertion in a proper position, with the outlet-aperture 7 directed downward, in which position it is secured by the key 4. When the device is in operation, the heat developed by friction between the wheel and its spindle will melt the lubricant, which latter will pass through the aperture-7 by gravity and will be absorbed by the asbestos filling 10 in the groove 9 of the wheel. The lubricant will be distributed from this filling to the bearing-surfaces between the spindle and wheel. This distribution takes place as the lubricant is required, the absorbent material retarding the flow of the melted lubricant and preventing its escape from the reservoir within the spindle in excessive quantities, so that the lubricant does not drip or fall from the wheel. The asbestos, while acting satisfactorily as an absorbent and retarding or fractionating agent, is of such a character as not to be injured by the heat developed, and I therefore prefer its use as a fillingmaterial. When the device is not in use and the parts become cool again, the lubricant ceases to flow, so that there is no loss or waste of the lubricant either when the device is in use or at rest. As already stated, provision is made for supplying oil or a liquid lubricant in case the grease becomes prematurely or accidentally exhausted, and in this case the filling also acts as a retarding agent to prevent excessive flow and waste of the lubricant.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details hereinbefore described ,and shown in the accompanying drawings, as the same may obviously be modified without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Alubricator for trolley and other wheels, comprising a wheel provided with an internal circumferential groove having a filling of asbestos or other heat-resisting and flow-retarding material, and a non-rotating hollow spindle provided at one end with a removable closure for the introduction of a lubricant and having in its under side an aperture communicating with the groove of the trolley-wheel, substantially as described.

2. A lubricator for trolley and other wheels, comprising a wheel having an internal circumferential groove provided with a filling of asbestos or other heat-resisting and flow retarding material, and a non-rotating hollow spindle provided with a removable closure at one end for the introduction of a lubricant, said spindle being provided with an aperture in its lower portion communicating with the groove of the trolley-wheel, a filling-aperture being formed to extend through said closure from its upper portion downward to the interior of the spindle, substantially as described.

3. In a lubricator for trolley and other wheels, the combination, with cheek-pieces having apertures, of a trolley-wheel having an internal circumferential groove provided with a filling of asbestos or other heat-resisting and flowretarding material, a hollow spindle closed at one end, a key passing through one cheek-piece and the closed end of the spindle therein, a closure having a threaded connection with the other end of the spindle to close the open mouth thereof, said spindle being provided with an. aperture in its under side communicating with the groove of the trolley-wheel, and said closure and the adjacent cheek-piece having an engaging projection and recess to insure the proper positioning of the spindle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERRY E. LOREE.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. KUNKLE, IRVINE MILLER. 

